* Birds of pray and water birds are not comprised in this number, because the Directive lists them as a group (not individual species). Therefore the whole group is listed as one species. (Source: Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation, 2013.)

Accoring to demographic estimates, approx. 128.000 inhabitants live in the Natura 2000 areas (Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation, 2013).

As many as 62% of Slovenians have already heard of Natura 2000. Slovenia ranks the fifth most informed EU nation about this network of nature protection areas, according to the Eurobarometer survey published in 2013. The findings for Slovenia are well above the European average of 27%. Furthermore, 32% of Slovenians know what Natura 2000 actually stands for, as opposed to only 11% of EU citizens.

When asked about damage or destruction of nature protection areas as a consequence of economic development, as many as 54% of Slovenians agree that such economic intervention should be prohibited, while only 11% think it is acceptable because economic development takes precedence.